Pittsburgh faces worsening homelessness crisis, urgent action needed

The homeless crisis in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County has escalated, with the number of unhoused individuals rising from 631 to 1,026 over the past five years. As fall approaches, more people are living on the streets and in tent encampments, particularly along the Eliza Furnace Trail and the North Shore. Shelter providers highlight a lack of temporary and permanent housing options, which exacerbates the situation for those without homes. Underlying issues such as addiction and mental illness are significant contributors to homelessness, with estimates suggesting that 75% of the homeless population struggles with these challenges. The pandemic has intensified mental health issues, and the local mental health system lacks sufficient resources to provide adequate treatment. Many individuals who require recovery assistance or mental health care find themselves without support, leading to increased street homelessness. The failure of the system is attributed to the closure of mental health hospitals decades ago under deinstitutionalization policies, which promised community-based treatment that has not materialized. As a result, many mentally ill individuals are left without proper care, often ending up on the streets. In response to the crisis, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt acknowledges the shortcomings of the current system and is organizing a summit involving judges, prosecutors, and mental health providers. The goal is to revamp the approach to homelessness, focusing on getting individuals into supportive programs rather than relying solely on law enforcement to address the issue.